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Home appraisals are a necessary part of any home loan process, whether for a purchase, refinance or home equity loan. Making sure your home gets the highest possible appraisal value is important. A high appraisal value can save you on mortgage insurance, net you more cash in a refinance or finalize a sale. Though many remodels net only a percentage of what you spend on them, there are simple things that you can do to raise your appraisal value.

1

Clean the home thoroughly from top to bottom, repaint walls in neutral colors and paint the trim white. Warm beiges like wheat or sand or a creamy off-white with white trim are appealing, yet let the trim work pop. A clean home looks, feels and smells better, and will create a positive impression on the appraiser.

2

Complete all the minor repairs that put things back in working order. Leaky faucets, holes in walls, damaged caulk, broken hinges and other signs of wear and tear indicate that a home is not well maintained. If cosmetic issues have gone unaddressed, the appraiser will assume that you have left larger repairs undone as well.

3

Replace dated lighting fixtures, kitchen and bath hardware, countertops and kitchen appliances. Updating these items with something fresh and current can make your home look like new.

4

Have all major systems and components, such as heating and air, roof and septic system, serviced and repaired as necessary. Be sure to save the receipts to show the appraiser.

5

Clear out all overgrown landscaping, freshen up mulch and plant some flowers or shrubs to create a big impact outside. Freshly painted trim, new door hardware and a clean driveway also greatly enhance curb appeal.

6

Undertake minor renovations in the kitchen or baths, if they are in poor condition or look old, using simple materials and neutral colors. Refacing cabinets, putting in a new backsplash, replacing countertops and putting down new flooring nets you a greater return than a large-scale remodel.

7

Add more open living space. Expanding a living room, adding a family room to the home, expanding the master suite and creating an eat-in kitchen are all valuable improvements. Be sure the addition flows with the rest of the house and is usable.

Tip

Consult with an experienced local real estate agent about improvement value if you are unsure about whether to proceed on a project. She can help you judge whether the return will be worth it.

Warning

Do not use the least expensive materials or shoddy workmanship. Any renovations should reflect quality or you risk the appraiser's downplaying their value.

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house 3 image by michael langley from <a href='http://www.fotolia.com'>Fotolia.com</a>

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Bramble, Laura. "How Do I Raise the Appraisal Value of a Home by Remodeling?" Home Guides | SF Gate, http://homeguides.sfgate.com/raise-appraisal-value-home-remodeling-1296.html. Accessed 14 September 2019.

Bramble, Laura. (n.d.). How Do I Raise the Appraisal Value of a Home by Remodeling? Home Guides | SF Gate. Retrieved from http://homeguides.sfgate.com/raise-appraisal-value-home-remodeling-1296.html

Bramble, Laura. "How Do I Raise the Appraisal Value of a Home by Remodeling?" accessed September 14, 2019. http://homeguides.sfgate.com/raise-appraisal-value-home-remodeling-1296.html

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